The New Colt Single Action Army

Guns Magazine, May, 2000 by John Taffin

Somewhat surprising is the fact that the best shooting load in the 5 1/2" .45 Colt was the worst in the longest barreled .45 Colt, and vice versa. The Calvary Model liked Winchester's 255 gr. lead bullets the best, while the Artillery Model preferred 255 gr. Blazers. The best loads for the .44-40s were assembled with the Lyman #427098, and included a standard 200 gr. flat-nosed .44-40 bullet, and Unique powder. The shorter barreled .44-40 liked 10 grs. of Unique at 1,100 fps, while the other preferred 8 grs. of Unique for 900 fps.

The Colt Single Action Army is like no other sixgun in its ability to stir heart and spirit. The mind may tell us other guns are better for our purposes but our emotions won't accept it.

Those of us who consider ourselves traditionalists know there are other fine sixguns out there -- from Smith & Wesson K-frames and N-frames to Colt Anacondas to Ruger Redhawks and Blackhawks to Freedom Arms Casulls. All are serious sixguns for serious use. And therein lies the real beauty of a Colt Single Action,

The Colt is for campfires, walks in the woods, cowboy shooting and dreaming of days gone by. We love these other sixguns and use them, but only the Colt can totally stir our emotions. The grand old Single Action Army enters the 21st century more popular than ever.

                     Colt Single Action Selected Loads
Load                                 Velocity Accuracy        Velocity
                              .45 Colt 5 1/2"          .45 Colt 7 1/2"
Blazer 255 Lead                       750 fps   1 3/4"         778 fps
Winchester 255 Lead                   749 fps       3"         754 fps
Black Hills 255 SWC                   787 fps   2 1/4"         856 fps
Oklahoma Ammunition 250 RN            867 fps   2 1/4"         868 fps
Federal 225 LSWC-HP                   811 fps   2 1/4"         811 fps
Bull-X 255 SWC/9.0 gr. Unique         919 fps   2 5/8"             914
Load                          Accuracy
Blazer 255 Lead                 3 3/4"
Winchester 255 Lead             1 1/2"
Black Hills 255 SWC             1 5/8"
Oklahoma Ammunition 250 RN      1 3/8"
Federal 225 LSWC-HP             2 1/4"
Bull-X 255 SWC/9.0 gr. Unique   1 3/4"
                                .44-40 4 3/4"        .44-40 5 1/2"
Lyman #429215/8.0 gr. Unique          919 fps     3"       904 fps     2"
Lyman #427098/9.0 gr. Unique        1,106 fps 2 7/8"     1,140 fps 2 5/8"
Lyman #427098/10.0 gr. Unique       1,092 fps     2"     1,180 fps 3 1/4"
Remington 200JFP/9.0 gr. Unique       814 fps 2 1/2"       950 fps     2"